Electrical alarm system



Nov. 24, 1970 Flw. JAMISON ELECTRICAL ALARM SYSTEM Filed May 27, 1969 4Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. FRED W JAM/SON.

Nov. 24, 1970 F. w. JAMISON ELECTRICAL ALARM SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed May 2'7, 1969 INVENTOF FRED W JAMISON.

United States Patent O 3,543,268 ELECTRICAL ALARM SYSTEM Fred W.Jamison, 3944B Monroeville Blvd., Apt. 2, Monroeville, Pa. 15146Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 551,331,

May 19, 1966. This application May 27, 1969, Ser.

Int. Cl. G081) 1/08; H02j 3/ H02p 1/04 U.S. Cl. 340-416 Claims ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE An electrical wiring system and receptacle in whichthe receptacle includes three terminals, one serving as a commonterminal and the other two serving as separate supply terminals, and thewiring is designed to provide an alarm function. A first line conductorconnected to one side of a current supply is connected to a first one ofthe separate supply terminals. A normally open switch is connected in acurrent flow path between the two separate supply terminals. A secondline conductor is connected to the other side of the current supply andto the common supply terminal. With this system, a plug of an appliancemay be plugged into the common and first terminals of the receptacle fornormal operation, and a normally closed alarm may be plugged into orconnected between the common and second terminals of the receptacle. Thenormally open switch therefore controls the energization of the alarm,and the switch may be operated by a window, door or the like so that theswitch closes when the window or door is opened to energize and soundthe alarm. Plural switches may be wired in parallel.

RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part ofapplication Ser. No. 551,331 filed on May 19, 1966 by the presentinventor and now Pat. No. 3,466,454.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention toprovide a wiring system and receptacle for allowing an appliance and analarm to be plugged into or connected to the same receptacle, theappliance being operated in the normal manner and the alarm beingsounded in response to closing of a switch operated by a window, door orthe like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wiring system andreceptacle with an alarm controlling feature which permits a singlealarm to be sounded when any of several windows is opened.

A further object of the invention is to 'permit the alarm to beunplugged or disconnected from the receptacle and another appliancereplace the alarm.

Still another object is to provide a control feature for the alarm whichkeeps the alarm on for a predetermined time after a door, for example,has been opened and closed.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following descriptionand appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specification wherein like reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts in the several views.

On the drawings FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic wiring diagram showing a wiringsystem and receptacle;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the receptacle;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic wiring diagram of an equivalent circuit;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a wiring system and a plurality ofreceptacles with window and door operated switches for controlling analarm;

FIG. 5 is a view of a wiring connection for the receptacle; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a motorized control for the alarm.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited in its application to thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various Ways. Also,it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employedherein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring specifically to the drawings and particularly FIG. 2, thenumeral 5 designates a conventional molded Bakelite body being formedhollow and divided longitudinally by a partition 6 and with the partsintermediate its length carrying a vertical partition 7 that extendsupwardly to be flush with the inner ends 8 and 8' of the body 5. Fixedwithin the hollow of the body and below the partition 6 is a flatmetallic conductor 9 that carries the spring contacts 10 and 10 with theconductor 9 having a set screw 11 whereby to connect a conductor for thenegative side of the source of energy. In the hollow above the partition6 and at each side of the partition 7, there is positioned a flatconductor plate 12 and 12', having terminal screws 13 and 13' whereby toconnect a positive conductor of the circuitry, illustrated particularlyin FIG. 1. The conductors 12 and 12' are separated by the partitions 7and form with the conductor 9 two separate circuits. The body 5 carriesthe usual front integral plates 14 that are slotted to expose the springcontacts 10, 10', 10 and 10" for the conductors 9 and 12 and 12'.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a source of electrical energy having a positiveconductor 15 and a negative conductor 16, the positive conductor 15 isconnected to a switch device 4, which may be a conventional wall switchand, when the switch 4 is closed, functions to form positive conductors17 and 18 and the negative conductor 16 forms a negative conductor 19.The positive conductor 17 is connected to the spring contacts 10"through a conductor 20 and a corresponding spring contact 10" isconnected to the conductor 18 by a conductor 21. Contacts 10 and 10 ofthe opposite side of the plug device 5 are connected to the negativeconductor 19 by a conductor 22. Conventional prongs 23 and 23 enterbetween the contacts 10 and 10" and establish a flow of current toeither an appliance 24, which may be any well known device and theappliance 24 is connected into the circuit by a switch 25 or, the lowerpair of prongs 23 and 23' may energize a lamp or other device, shown at26. An accessory, similar to the appliance 24 may also be energized andindividually controlled by a switch 27.

It will thus be apparent, that with the improved plug of this invention,plug devices having terminals may be inserted and thereby establish twoindividual circuits or a series of plugs may be disposed in a convenientlocation and connected to the conductors 9, 12 and 12 by suitable wireconductors and also the several circuits may be controlled by the switch4. As will be apparent, the plug of this device controls two circuits,one open and one closed. This will be done by using two positive and onenegative terminals. The upper circuit would be closed, and would be usedfor television sets, for instance or any appliance having its ownswitch. Lights or other apparatus used would be plugged into the lowercircuit and turned oft and on by the Wall switch 4.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there has been provided a housing 28 in whichis fitted and clamped a plurality of elongated metallic terminal strips29, 29 and 29". The uppermost strip 29 is connected to the source ofenergy 15 and the conductor 15' is connected to the lowermost strip 29by a conductor 30 being energized with respect to the conductor 15' by awall switch 31. The intermediate strip 29" is connected to a negativeconductor 32 and as shown, plugs having prongs 33 and 33' establish aflow of current to a lamp or other device 34 or to an appliance 35, thatcarries its own switch 36.

In the use of the invention, the Plug is connected to the negative andpositive conductors, through the medium of the screws 13 and 13' or thescrew 11, providing a pair of separated circuits through the conductors12 and 9 upon one end of the plug and 12 and 9 upon the opposite end ofthe plug. The circuitry thus facilitates the energization of lamps orappliances and is a distinct improvement over the plugs in conventionaluse. The construction of the plug 5 by separating the upper conductorplates 12 and 12' insulating the plates 12 and 12' from each other,makes it possible to install wiring in a building or the like in asimple manner. The spring contacts and 10, carried by the conductor 9are common ground connections and with the conductors 12 and 12',constituting a complete circuit to the apparatus to be energized.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a wiring system and receptaclearrangement provided with window and door operated switches forcontrolling an alarm. In FIG. 4, the receptacles 100, 102, 104 and 106are each of the same construction as has been described and claimed inconnection with FIG. 2.

Each of these receptacles has a common terminal 108 and all of thesecommon terminals are connected by lines 110 to a line conductor 112which in turn is connected to one side of a current supply source whichmay be an ordinary home AC current Supply. Each of the receptacles alsohas a first supply terminal 114 and a second separate supply terminal116 in accordance with the previous description. Prongs are provided foreach of the terminals 108, 114 and 116 so that one plug may be connectedto or plugged into the prongs of terminals 108 and 114 and another plugmay be plugged into or connected to the prongs for terminals 108 and116.

The wiring of receptacles 100, 102 and 104 will be described withreference to FIG. 4, and the wiring of receptacle 106 will be describedlater with reference to FIG. 6. A line conductor 118 is connected to oneside of the current source and is also connected by each of the lines120 to the terminals 114. The line conductor 118 may be divided toprovide two branch lines 122 and 124 with a switch 126 being connectedin series in only line 124 as shown. Branch line 122 is the branch whichis connected to terminals 114. The other branch line 124 is connected bylines 128 to the other supply terminals 116 of the receptacles 100, 102and 104.

It may be seen from the description thus far that switch 126 must beclosed in order to energize terminals 116, so switch 126 controlscurrent flow through branch line 124 and any appliance which may beplugged into terminals 108 and 116. Terminals 114 receive current frombranch line 122, and since there is no control switch in this line, thecurrent flow in any appliance plugged into terminals 108 and 114 is notaffected by the switch 126.

Switches 130, 132 and 134 are connected across lines 122 and 124, theconnections in FIG. 4 being made at terminals 114 and 116.

For purposes of describing the alarm function of the wiring system, itwill be assumed that a normally closed alarm device is plugged intoterminals 108 and 116 of receptacle 100, although it should beunderstood that the alarm device could be plugged into the correspondingterminals of any of the receptacles shown in FIG. 4. It will also beassumed that switch 126 is open as shown, and that switches 130, 132,134 and 136 are also open.

The latter switches are adapted to be operated to a closed position inresponse to opening of a window, door or the like. Thus, it will beassumed that switches '130, 132 and 134 are operated by windows 138, 140and 142, and that switch 136 is operated-by a door 144. These switchesare open when the window or door is closed, and any one of theseswitches will close when the corresponding window or door is opened.

It switch 130 is closed in response to opening of window 138, a currentflow path is completed from line 122 through switch 130 to terminal 116.If a normally closed alarm device A is plugged into terminals 108 and116, the alarm will be energized and will sound when switch 130 closes.The alarm will remain on until switch 130 is opened in response toclosing of window 138.

Suppose that switch 132 is closed rather than switch 130. A circuit isthen completed from line 122 through a line 120, switch 132, terminal116, a line 128, line 124, another line 128 to terminal 116 ofreceptacle 100. Thus the alarm A which is plugged into terminals 108 and116 of receptacle is sounded when switch 132 closes and will remain onuntil switch 132 is opened.

Suppose that switch 134 is closed by opening of window 142. A currentflow path is completed from line 122 through a line 120, terminal 114 ofthe receptacle 104, switch 134, terminal 116 of receptacle 104, line128, line 128 connected to receptacle 100, terminal 116 of receptacle100, and the alarm device plugged into terminals 108 and-116 ofreceptacle 100. Again, the'alarm sounds until switch 134 is opened.

Thus, it may be seen that the switches 130, 132 and 134 are in parallelwith each other across lines 122 and 124, and that closing of any ofthese switches 130, 132 and 134 will energize the alarm A. The sameresult will occur if the alarm A is plugged into terminals 108 and 116of the receptacle 102 or receptacle 104. It should be understood,however, that a single switch, such as switch 130, may be used with asingle receptacle, such as receptacle 100, if desired. In this case, thebranch line 124 could be omitted if desired, since switch is connectedacross terminals 114 and 116 of receptacle 100.

FIG. 5 shows a simple way of connecting line 112 to the terminals 108.In FIG. 5, line 112 has been cut and the conductor wire has been exposedto provide two wire ends 112a and 11211. An insulating holder 146 havingapertures or slots therein has been clipped over wire ends 112a and 112bto retain them in spaced relation. Wire ends 112a and 112!) may then bebent as shown by the dashed lines in FIG. 5 to engage a terminal 108 ofone of the receptacles, or a binding post for that terminal, in order toconnect line 112 to the common terminal 108 of the receptacle.

FIG. 6 illustrates the wiring of receptacle 106 to which thedoor-operated switch 136 is connected. It may be seen that branch line122 is connected to terminal 114, and branch line 124 is connected toterminal 116 in accordance with the previous description. Terminal 108is connected by a line 110 to the common line 112. Line 112 is alsoconnected to a motor 150, and line 124 is connected through terminal 116and a line 154 to the motor, it being assumed that line 124 is normallyopen since switch 126 is open. Line 122 is connected through terminal114 and line 152 to a cam operated switch 156. The contacts 158 of thisswitch are opened and closed by means of a cam 160 which is driven bythe motor 150. One side of the switch 136 is connected to terminal 114,and the other side of switch 136 is connected to terminal 116, so theswitch 136 is connected across lines 122 and 124 just as switches 130,132 and 134 are.

It is assumed that switch 136 is operated by a door, and that switch 136will close only if the door is opened. It will also be assumed that analarm device is plugged into terminals 108 and 116 of receptacle 106,rather than being plugged into the corresponding terminals of receptacle100 as shown in FIG. 4. If the door is opened, switch 136 closes. Acurrent flow path is then completed from line 122, through terminal 114,switch 136, and terminal 116 to the alarm device A which is thenenergized. Some of the current from line 122 also flows through line 154and the motor 150 to line 112. The motor then starts to run, and the cam160 closes contacts 158 which are normally open. Current can then flowfrom line 122 through line 152, switch 156 and motor 150 to line 112 tokeep the motor energized if the door should be closed to reopen contacts136. Some of this current flows from the motor through line 154 toterminal 116 to keep the alarm A energized when switch 136 opens.

The motor makes one complete revolution keeping contacts 158 closed andcontinuing to sound the alarm. After this revolution is completed,contacts 158 open so line 122 is thereby disconnected from the motor 150and also terminal 116. The motor stops and the alarm A is turned ofi.

The switch 136 could be controlled by a window rather than a door ifdesired. Similarly, it should be understood that switch 136 may beoperated by a door without the motorized control feature if desired.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the inventionprovides a wiring system and receptacle with alarm controlling functionswhich are relatively simple and flexible. An alarm may be controlled bya single switch or a plurality of switches, and one or more receptaclesmay be used. A wall switch is optional where the alarm control featureis used. A motorized alarm controlling function may also be provided, ifdesired.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An electrical wiring system with integrated alarm including incombination,

(a) a receptacle having a common terminal and first and second separatesupply terminals arranged so that one plug can be plugged into saidfirst and common terminals and another plug can be concurrently pluggedinto said second and common terminals, said terminals being insulatedfrom each other by an insulating body of said receptacle,

(b) a first line conductor connected to said first supply terminal andconnected to one side of a current pp y,

(c) a second line conductor connected to said common supply terminal andconnected to the other side of said current supply,

(d) an alarm device connected between said second terminal and saidcommon terminal,

(e) normally open first switch means closed by opening of a closure of abuilding and connected to provide at least one current flow path betweensaid first line conductor and said alarm device for energizing saidalarm device in response to closing of said first switch means,

(f) a third line conductor connected to said second terminal,

(.3) second normally open switch means connected between said first andthird line conductors, said first switch means eflFectively connectedacross said first and third line conductors, and

(h) at least one additional receptacle having the same construction assaid first named receptacle including a first supply terminal to whichsaid first line conductor is connected, a second supply terminal towhich said third line conductor is connected, and a common terminal towhich said second line conductor is connected.

2. The alarm system as claimed in claim 1 in which said first switchmeans includes a plurality of normally open switches connected inparallel between said first and third conductors to form a plurality ofcurrent flow paths between said first line conductor and said alarmdevice.

3. The alarm system as claimed in claim 2 in which each of said switchesis operable in response to opening and closing of a respective window,door, or the like, of a building.

4. The alarm system as claimed in claim 2 in which said switches areeach effectively connected between said first and third line conductors.

5. The alarm system as claimed in claim 1 including a motor connected tosaid second terminal and to said second line conductor, a cam driven bysaid motor, an additional switch operated by said cam, and meansconnecting said additional switch to said motor and to said first lineconductor, said first switch means being adapted to supply energizingcurrent to said motor upon closing thereof in order to operate said camto in turn close said additional switch which then keeps said alarm andsaid motor energized for a predetermined time until said cam opens saidadditional switch.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,312,580 3/1943 OBrien 307l2 X2,447,625 8/1948 Astin 340-416 X 2,474,843 7/ 1949 Helsing 318-4663,054,994 9/1962 Haram. 3,349,363 10/1967 Goodman.

ALVIN H. WAR ING, Primary Examiner.

P. PALAN, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R.

